KUALA LUMPUR: PKR vice-president Mohd Rafizi Ramli will be called to testify in the defamation suit by National Feedlot Corporation Sdn Bhd (NFCorp) executive chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Salleh Ismail against Lembah Pantai member of parliament Nurul Izzah Anwar and former PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
The suit filed by Mohamad Salleh and NFCorp over Nurul Izzah's statement regarding alleged abuse of the firm's monies, came up for case management in chambers at the High Court today before Judge Datuk Hue Siew Kheng.
Mohamad Salleh's counsel, Syed Ismat Syed Muhamad, told reporters that Hue had fixed April 15 for further case management for the matter.
He said besides Rafizi, Mohamad Salleh and Nurul Izzah who had given evidence on Jan 5 and Jan 7, will be re-called to testify in the suit.
On Feb 4, the court permitted the plaintiffs to insert details of alleged malice and include the particulars into their reply to the defence raised by the defendants.
Hue also ordered the plaintiffs to pay RM10,000 in cost to the defendants as the amendment of the reply may be prejudiced and inconvenient to the defendants.
She also allowed the defendants to recall any witness if required. This was in relation to Nurul Izzah and Saifuddin who may recall Salleh to court to cross-examine him on the details in the reply.
In the suit filed on Dec 24, 2013, the plaintiffs claimed that Nurul Izzah had made a statement issued in a video statement on March 7, 2012, via Malaysiakini TV that Salleh bought eight KL Eco City condominium units with public funds held by NFCorp at a value of RM12 million.
The plaintiffs claimed that her statement, which was based on an ‘expose’ by PKR's former strategy director Mohd Rafizi Ramli, implied that he used the money as collateral to get a loan to buy the eight condominium units.
Mohamad Salleh further claimed that Nurul Izzah's statement implied NFCorp conspired with him in cheating and misusing money belonging to the government and the people for personal enrichment and to lead a luxurious lifestyle.
Saifuddin is being sued in his capacity as then-PKR secretary-general responsible for the statement made by Nurul Izzah in her capacity as PKR representative.
The plaintiffs seek general, exemplary and aggravated damages. They also want an injunction against both PKR members to prevent them from repeating the statement.
Nurul Izzah and Saifuddin were represented by counsel Joshua Kevin Sathiaseelan.